Therefore, have your damask spotless. A great economy is always to use a carving cloth even for breakfast. These carving cloths need not be elaborate. Just a piece of damask to match the cloth, nicely hemstitched, and a large initial embroidered in one corner, is more suitable than an expensive fancy cloth, and can be easily made at home.

The time a tablecloth lasts clean and fresh, moreover, depends largely on the way that it is folded. If it is folded carefully, without unnecessary creases, each time it is taken off, it will last double the time than if a careless maid puts it away badly folded.

A cloth is often more creased than soiled, and when this is the case an iron will work wonders. The best thing to do, however, is to keep the cloth always in an old-fashioned screw press. Such a thing can often be picked up at a sale cheaply, will stand in a pantry or passage, and ensures a neat and fresh cloth at every meal.